Prognostic Roles of Trace Element and Cobalamin Concentrations in Dogs With Parvoviral Enteritis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The trace elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) have been the focus of research into their potential roles in the prognosis of gastrointestinal disorders in humans. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the predictive potential serum concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cu/Zn, Se, and cobalamin as possible prognostic indicators in dogs with parvoviral enteritis (CPV). ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs diagnosed with CPV (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;20) and healthy controls (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;10). METHODS: A case-controlled study. Serum concentrations of Cu and Zn were measured using a spectrophotometric method; serum Se levels were determined by mass spectrophotometry; and serum cobalamin concentrations were assessed using a chemiluminescent immunoassay method. The Mann-Whitney U test was employed to compare subgroup medians. RESULTS: Upon admission, surviving dogs with CPV (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;10) exhibited higher serum Cu concentrations (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;154.24; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;60.15-188.46&#x2009;&#x3bc;g/dL) and Cu/Zn ratios (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;1.52; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.67-2.45), alongside lower serum Zn concentrations (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;88.05; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;51.3-129.2&#x2009;&#x3bc;g/dL) and cobalamin levels (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;252.5; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;111-396&#x2009;pg/mL), compared to the control group (Cu, median&#x2009;=&#x2009;72.12; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;47.04-90.26&#x2009;&#x3bc;g/dL), Zn (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;184.2; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;73.0-262.7&#x2009;&#x3bc;g/dL), Cu/Zn (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.37; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.26-0.73), cobalamin (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;638.5; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;306.0-1016&#x2009;pg/mL). Additionally, non-surviving dogs (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;10) exhibited markedly higher serum Cu concentrations (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;193.5; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;125.0-229.0&#x2009;&#x3bc;g/dL) and Cu/Zn ratios (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;5.45; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;1.95-9.23), and significantly lower serum Zn (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;37.75; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;24.8-71.6&#x2009;&#x3bc;g/dL), Se (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;52.45; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;21.27-91&#x2009;&#x3bc;g/L), and cobalamin levels (median&#x2009;=&#x2009;52.2; range&#x2009;=&#x2009;20.0-147.0&#x2009;pg/mL) compared to both survivors and controls. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Statistical variations in serum concentrations of Cu, Zn, and cobalamin, alongside Cu/Zn ratios, were observed among survivors, non-survivors, and controls (control-survivor and survivor-non-survivor: p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05 and control-non-survivor: p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01), which might suggest their potential prognostic value in CPV.